Conor McGregor plans to open chain of pubs worldwide after forking out £2m to buy bar where UFC star assaulted punter

CONOR McGREGOR plans to open a chain of pubs across the world.

The UFC superstar, 32, splashed out £2million to buy the Marble Arch in Dublin in March.

That was where McGregor assaulted 50-year-old punter Des Keogh two years earlier.

And now the Irishman has spent a further £2.5m to purchase and renovate the Black Forge Inn in the same city.

McGregor picked up the Crumlin venue in 2020 and has had the place freshened up ahead of reopening in July.

But the new landlord insists this is ‘only the beginning’ of his latest business venture.

McGregor told The Sunday Business Post: “With the enjoyment I have had, and am having throughout this whole process, I definitely feel this is only the beginning for me as a publican.

“Ireland’s public houses are renowned worldwide and it is a great honour to have my own representation now in the mix.

“I will explore other venues across Ireland and overseas for sure.

“I am passionate about hospitality and entertaining, and with the Black Forge I am only beginning.”

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McGregor also has a business partnership with tailoring brand David August as well as his own Proper No Twelve whiskey which he has sold a majority stake in.

In May, he was crowned the world’s highest-paid athlete by Forbes.

The UFC hero topped the elite rich list with £128million, pipping the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, LeBron James and Roger Federer.

McGregor has fought once in the Octagon in the past year, where he suffered a second-round TKO defeat to Dustin Poirier.

However, the Notorious collected a cool payday of £18m – or £4,000 per SECOND – for the UFC 257 loss.

And the pair will step back into the octagon for their trilogy bout on July 10 at UFC 264.

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The Irishman returns to the octagon to face Dustin Poirier again in July[/caption]